With the launch of the new Gocycle G3 a big question on the horizon will be, what's the difference between the Gocycle G2 & G3? You should find this article helpful where the difference will be explained. Gocycle have not changed the format of the bike completely - Why? Because if something works, why change it? Therefore the same design characteristics of the frame geometry, angles, wheelbase, wheel size, posture & overall size remain the same, great news! What has changed are some of the vital components and the technology used within, this article outlines some of the main differences between the G2 and the G3. Visuals The first step will be how the Gocycle G3 looks vs the G2. They look very similar, however you'll notice their is a fancy new colour scheme available - Electric Blue. This colour looks amazing in the flesh and is a great addition to the current palette of Black, White or Grey. Lighting The new G3 has completely integrated lighting cables, whereas the G2 has internal cables that extrude the frame on each end. This gives a cleaner look and neater installation. It's worth noting here that although the lights are available as an optional extra on both Gocycle G2 & G3. They look similar but there are not backwards compatible between models. The new G3 lighting system has different bolts and mounts. Daytime Running Light The new Gocycle G3 has an integrated daytime running light for extra visibility over the G2. The standard dash on the G2 does not have this feature, nor can it be retrofitted. On the G3 it's completely integrated within the dash module. Dashboard The dashboard see's some revisions for the 3rd generation over the Gocycle G2. Firstly we see an edge-to-edge display for a sleeker look. We also see some addition to the dash LED's too. The addition of the 4 blue LED's represent the front daytime running light settings. Along with integrated rotary shifters, re-designed brake levers and comfort grips. Battery Range The Gocycle G2 has a 10.75Ah battery whereas Gocycle have managed to fit a larger 13.5Ah battery into the same space on the G3. This leads to up to 25% more range whilst keeping the weight to a tee. The range figures calculated (depending on rider input) on the Gocycle G2 offer up to 64km (40 miles) whereas the G3 now hosts up to 80km (50 miles). Whilst we are on the battery we also see a new BMS for faster charging over the G2 and also a moulded in charger connector, so the charger connection will feel more positive and should prevent the rubber seal on the G2 ejecting the charger plug. Comfort The grips on the G2 are standard round grips, whereas the G3 offers oval ergonomic grips for greater comfort. The saddle on both G2 & G3 has some small revisions but remains the same comfort. The pedals on the Gocycle G2 were rubber moulded whereas the G3 pedals have been widened & added some extra grip on top, they also benefit from new quality sealed bearings. PitStop Wheels The wheels on the Gocycle G2 and G3 remain a similar shape, the lightweight wheels actually feature a different locking mechanism on the G3, as like the G2 the cam levers remain, but the user has a secondary Hex Lock system to show that the wheels are positively engaged. Weight Weight is always important on any portable / folding bike, but even more so on a electric bike version. The fact that the Gocycle is portable is key to it's design, it's actually one of the lightest / smallest compacted electric bikes on the market at 16kg. Therefore it's important that the G3 doesn't way lots more than the G2 even with all the new features and bigger battery. We are surprised that Gocycle have managed to keep the weight the same across both generations, the G3 only adds 300 grams to the overall weight! Conclusion As you can see there have been many changes between the Gocycle generations. Of course there are many other changes from the G3 over the G2, certainly too many to delve into detail. But to name a few: New high quality bearings, improved fitting hub cap, concealed lighting cables, integrated seat tube collar, kickstand tab for easier deployment, new and larger heatsink cap, motor vibration mounts, the crank wave washers have been reduced to one apart, new integrated steerer and stem adjuster, a pivot back plate, pedal rpm magnet is now removed, a new anti chain-slap module & even the gearbox bearing arrangement had been modified. Want to learn more? You can view the full specification / overview on both models here: Gocycle G2 & Gocycle G3. You may also find our in depth review of the G3 helpful here: Gocycle G3 Ride Review
Last week I had the opportunity to pinch a new Gocycle G3 prototype electric bike for a day to bring an exclusive review of some of the new upgrades and features to you. If you're not up-to-date with the features of the Gocycle, check out the Gocycle G2 to see just how brilliant this eBike is. Gocycle have been working hard over the past few years to refine the 2nd Generation folding electric bike further, based on customer feedback. So how can you improve the perfect you might be thinking? I set out to ride and test the latest revisions on the new Gocycle G3. While I only had a limited time to review the bike (loaned a secret prototype!) I was sworn to secrecy until today.. Let's go! How does it look? The first thing I noticed was the traditional Gocycle style of clean lines and simplicity. It's really nice to see Gocycle stick to this front as the G3 looks just as elegant as the G2, albeit with a host of new technology and futuristic features. Simple but stylish, I was handed the G3 in it's folded, packed down form. I'll come to the docking station further down, but the first thing that was apparent is how small it was as it was plonked down in the corner of the office. New Features? Eager to get looking, I had it up to full form in seconds ready to catch some close up's of some of the new gizmo's. Below I am going to delve a little deeper into some of the changes for the new Gocycle G3. This is not a detailed overview of the whole bike and how it works, you can see that along with the full specification on our website here - Gocycle G3 Specification. Daylight Running Light One of the biggest differences I noticed straight away was the long white line at the front of the dash. Completely built into the handlebar / dash display this light strip looked fully integrated and subtle. The Gocycle G3 is designed by an ex formula one engineer with a heavy automotive background, Richard Thorpe saw that European law changed for all automobiles to include daylight running lights (DRL's) as standard. Whilst this is an electric bike and not required by law, Richard saw the safety aspects of DRL's and set to work to integrate it into the Gocycle G3 design. After all a safer rider is a happy rider! When you pedal the light automatically comes on to allow extra visibility at both night and daytime. The DRL will help other road users see you coming and comes with no added hassle as the patented light pipe technology requires no maintenance / bulbs and draws the power from the Gocycle itself. A complete all in one solution! New Dash Display While we are at the front of the bike, the cockpit has had some revisions too. The new display has been extended for easier viewing and a cleaner seamless look. You'll notice some blue led lights here too. These indicate the mode of the DRL at the front, you can navigate between high and low beam, off & a flashing mode with ease. The red LED's on the left indicate battery capacity in 10% increments and the right LED's indicate speed. The LED's in the middle represent the electronic gear selection. The new display looks far more futuristic and elegant with edge to edge designs that flow over the levers - a nice little touch! Ergo Grips & Shifters More upfront features include some comfy new ergonomic handlebar grips. These were instantly noticeable as soon as you hold the bars. Not only to they feel great but also allow more blood flow in the hand and less strain on your lower arms on longer rides. Also new in the grips are integrated two way rotary shifters. A big step forward from the old buttons mounted below. I must say that these feel really positive as you twist them either way and the instant activation of the control on the dash inspired confidence. On the right, the new shifters allow the user to change up & down the electronic gearing, another new features as previously you could only change up & wait for the Gocycle to auto shift down. On the left hand you can use the shifter to navigate the DRL light system between modes and it also doubles up as the on-demand power control (when enabled). Not grip / shifter related; but you'll also notice in the picture above the new revised brake levers with a much more stealthy look, it's easier on the eye and feel nicer to control on the ride. New Disc Brakes The new disc brake design is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. They also offer easier pad removal, completely internally routed hoses and are slimmer for a cleaner overall look. You'll also notice the front motor had had a few tweaks, with some added bling and neater integration onto the new Gocycle single sided fork. Also note the discs are covered for added stealth and keeps little fingers away! These are also colour coded & vented for extra cooling. New Pedals A smaller tweak albeit a noticeable difference; the new slimline pedals not only look and feel part of the overall quality of the bike, but offer added grip in slippery conditions. This was more apparent when I was actually riding the bike, the G2 pedals offer a rubber surface, whereas the new G3 pedals offer a wider platform and added grip on top. For your average commuter riding in all weather this will help greatly. The pedals also feature new high quality sealed bearings for all conditions. Bigger Battery A big change for the G3 comes with it's higher capacity battery. Gocycle have managed to increase the capacity of the battery, improve the BMS technology & the best bit? It still fits within the frame for a completely integrated approach. The new bigger battery hosts up to 25% more range for those riders looking to travel further, I am told that the Gocycle G3 now has a range of up to 80km (50miles) depending on rider input. In this picture you'll notice more red anodized bling which really adds to the overall quality feel of this electric bike. A small tweak I also noticed when unfolding the Gocycle earlier was that they have improved the shock plunger so it no longer flops down (the opposite way to where you want it) when removed, this made folding so much easier as you located the plunger into the LockShock itself. New PitStop Wheel Locking The PitStop wheels are one of the best things I love about the Gocycle. Again derived from Formula 1 technology, this design is so simple, the fact that you can remove the wheels in seconds by use of the cam levers; it's just ace. However previously you got a satisfying click as it engaged, it wasn't always obvious. The new G3 wheel, above (with the wheel removed) you can see the PitStop wheel now has improvements with the cam levers to show a un-locked padlock. You can also see the three triangles do not align. When the cam levers are down, pictured above, you can see that the three triangles simply rotate into position and a locked padlock appears in the window. This is great as it adds safety to the eBike and you can be sure that the wheel is firmly in situ, neat huh? Portable Docking Station As suggested above; the glorious new Gocycle G3 arrived in my office in its folded form, this time neatly packed onto a specific colour coded docking station. The Gocycle sits firmly in position and a protective cover (not pictured) can be zipped on top to add extra protection. To remove the Gocycle from the docking station it was simply the case of just popping the wheels out of the base, unscrewing the thumb turn away from the crank and the whole G3 just pulls away. Such a simple solution to the all common storage problems. Preview Video: So how does it ride? Quite simply, the Gocycle G2 was a great machine to ride and the G3 had a hard job to compete! Never-the-less the ride was much the same if not a little better. The motor seemed to be more responsive and picked up quicker & the Gocycle was a comfy as ever to ride with the new components. One this I did notice was how responsive the gear changes were, both up & down when shifting. You could quickly navigate these using the rotary shifters which really spring back positively in your hand. In comparison to other shifters I have used on other bikes, I was expecting them to feel flimsy or floppy but the G3 upped the game. Whilst I only got a short time to ride the new Gocycle G3, as the winter evening approached the Daytime Running Lights came in real handy. As you can see above it certainly does a good job adding some viewing light into the equation too! I was also assured that the prototype model was not running all the latest firmware updates and I should expect to see even more responsiveness to the controls, shifting and power engagement which is now in it's final approval ahead of production. One of the things that always staggers me is the positioning the Gocycle gives. You'd expect it to feel small and pokey when you ride it, but it doesn't. Now agreed I was so excited to get it out the door, I didn't set the saddle height up etc. But the ergonomic V design to the bike makes it ride like a regular sized machine. Believe it or not the wheelbase is the same as our regular bikes, which is hard to believe when you see it folded into the small docking station. Conclusion I am surprised at what Gocycle have managed to achieve from an already fantastic product. I think the fact that they're engineers at heart, really shows off in the design & structure of the product. Let's not forget that the features listed above are only some of the things I noticed in the short time I had the G3. It's not just the external components that have changed, there's a host of new internal additions that are worthy of a mention too, including: New high quality bearings, improved fitting hub cap, concealed lighting cables, integrated seat tube collar, kickstand tab for easier deployment, new and larger heatsink cap, motor vibration mounts, the crank wave washers have been reduced to one apart, new integrated steerer and stem adjuster, a pivot back plate, pedal rpm magnet is now removed, a new anti chain-slap module & even the gearbox bearing arrangement had been modified. On the software side the Gocycle G3 benefits from loads of updates, the battery has seen significant upgrades too in respect of the BMS (battery management system) which now offers an improved charge & sleep management. On the software side of things, the new Gocycle Connect smartphone app is to be launched to celebrate the G3. Whilst I have not had a chance to play with the finished version I am told the new application (available on both Android & App Store) with additional parameters like distance / time travelled, calorie burn, mpg, litres saved, battery capacity, adjust the top assisted speed & even check the weather! More on that to follow, watch this space! Anyway big words aside, what does this all mean? Simply - The Gocycle G3 is better than ever! I can see the portable docking station being one of the advancements that really pays off. With manufacturers looking at neat ways to integrate eco friendly mobility it won't be long until we see these built into boats and car boots for the perfect Gocycle storage solution. Exclusive Product Preview Video: Do you need one? Of course! Need - No.. Want - Yes! It's not until you have ridden the Gocycle until you realise what you'd be without. What we really meant was is it worth the wait over the current G2? The larger range, improved components and features get the thumbs up from me. The tech savvy will no doubt want the latest and greatest & the vast majority of us will always pick the latest tech available. Never-the-less some savvy buyers will notice the £500 price difference and opt in to pick up one of the limited amount of Gocycle G2 bikes left. View the complete specification & features on the dedicated Gocycle G3 pre-order page here. Those lucky enough to be on the list will start receiving the new 'Electric Blue' G3 in March with the Black & White variants to follow slightly later on.
So nice to see some feedback in out of the blue. This review just came in from a customer, purchased in June 2015, now 2500km into his Haibike xDuro Trekking RX electric bike. Where it started I went to pick up the Haibike Trekking RX from E-Bikeshop in person. After payment I was shown to a nice shiny bike and given a few useful pointers on details of using and riding one of these bikes e.g. how to keep the (optional) battery cover in one piece, battery charging tactics and the difference between the SRAM shifters on this bike and the Shimano ones I am used to. One thing I had not been warned about were the four prominent e-bike store stickers stuck on the bike on delivery. They are arguably louder than Haibike's own branding. Whilst I am quite happy to recommend Martin and his business I would rather do so verbally than by riding a two wheeled billboard. The stickers are removable but because you have to do it letter by letter it takes 20x longer than it takes Martin to stick them on! How's the eBike? The Haibike Trekking bike is - as advertised - a very nice machine. The Bosch motor is more than adequately powerful to help propel bike, rider (80kg+) and two well loaded panniers up a several percent incline at 15mph with no more than an ordinary brisk pedalling effort. Initially the effect seems magical as the intervention of the motor appears to suspend the laws of physics a little. The build quality of the electric bike seems as good as I am used to from more conventional quality bike manufacturers. Given that this is a bike with with mudguards, lights, etc. you do get the occasional period of amusement hunting down clicks, creaks and cracks but no more so than usual in my experience. Bosch assistance modes Of the four support modes I tend to use "Tour" which gives noticeable support but (like the other modes) cuts off above 15mph leaving a bit of space for exercise. "Eco" more or less negates the weight of the bike and little more so it largely feels like riding an ordinary bike this size. "Sport" adds a little more zip, I use it when feeling a little weaker or more tired when going up a bit of incline. "Turbo" is borderline silly powerful and I only use it when going up larger and significant hills or (on one occasion) when riding into a gale force wind and rainstorm. Martin kindly did the Bosch Nyon upgrade on this bike and it was well worth it. The mapping and navigation works well but for me the ability to configure to display to show speed, cadence and power (among other things) displayed how I want them is invaluable. It allows me to pace myself as well as the battery in an efficient way. In practice the battery has never run out on me but in order to make this so I have used the electric support a little more sparingly on a couple of longer rides. Factory Accessories All the conventional touring electric bike accessories do the job as intended. SKS mudguards are among the best. The pannier rack with a black powder-coat finish carries even heavier loads well but is somewhat prone to scratching and scuffing where the pannier bags touch/rub over time. This is easily rectified (jot of Hammerite) and/or prevented (black tape on contact area). The BOSCH eBike battery powered light is more than good enough for commuting along lanes that have no street lighting whatsoever. Finally the kick stand works very well indeed both when the bike is loaded with bags and when it is not. It is extra handy when inconsiderate fellow cyclists have taken all the slots in the bike rack at work and I can just park next to it with decorum and grace (and a really heavy steel chain lock). Upgraded accessories Accessories which I have added to the xDuro Trekking RX and which give me pleasure are: + Ergon handlebar grips: I find these the best of their kind and I have them on most of my bikes. + Suntour NCX suspension seatpost: works remarkably well. I clean and oil it every 500km and it works smoothly and quietly. It does not do what a full suspension setup does but it handles inferior road surfaces and the occasional speed bump with ease and it even makes a reasonable attempt at smoothing gravel tracks. + Altura Morph Backpack Pannier: a "convertible" pannier backpack that actually works. There are slight compromises in that it is not the biggest pannier bag and not the very best backpack but it remains a very usable pannier bag and it is more than good enough to be used as a backpack on days when I don't cycle. Health benefits As for the effect on health I do not doubt that riding an electric bike is not the best way to train for the Tour de France! Having said that, if you don't overuse the electric support you most definitely do get exercise (and with the Nyon unit you can quantify it). Personally I also find the electric support is a great excuse remover even if you only use it sparingly. On days when a little sniffly or feeling a little less well the temptation to skip the bike is much less. You know that if you really shouldn't feel up to it you can always cheat and let the bike do the work but in practice (so far at least) that never happens and you pedal away anyway, feeling better on arrival as you so often do when cycling. What's the verdict? When reading about eBikes you see a number of comments over and over again. Two common ones are that they allow you to commute without sweating and that they will have negative impact of health and fitness because the electrics do the work. I feel both of these observations need a little nuance. I am happy I bought this bike. It feels like money well spent & I use it as often as I reasonably can. I expect I could do my commute without sweating at all if I put the bike in "Turbo" mode and stayed under the 15 mph motor cut-off limit. In practice I much prefer to push it over that limit a little from time to time and I use the lower support levels. This means I do sweat a little now and then but not to any extent that a half decent clothing base layer can't handle and a shower on arrival at work is not required at all. The good and the bad points summed up:- With thanks to Roger Francis for this long term review on the Haibike xDuro Trekking RX eBike.
December saw another E-Bikeshop Owners Ride. This one was different, between xmas & new year everyone was eager to get out on the electric mountain bikes, we had to excite! As many of the owners club were busy in the run up to Christmas we planned to join forces with Alex @ eMTB Coaching who was also running a social ride that day. Alex is a friend of the club and we have spent many a ride with his coaching company. The last set in Wales for a day's training and fun on the Welsh slopes. That's a whole other story, but it was great, so deserves a mention. This will actually be the third time the club appeared back at Swinley this year, but it's so much fun, everyone was up for it. With trail changes, weather and different lines, Swinley Forest trails just keep on giving! Anyway, back to the ride.. Getting started We all met in the main car park at Swinley Forest, Bracknell for 10am to promptly set off. Everyone was eager to get out on the trial and burn off some of the calories earned over the xmas week. First up was the mild Blue trail. It was clear from the off that the group was just far too big, with many 'analogue' bikers out too. The trails quickly become clogged, so we took the decision to split from the main group and let some leeway so we could all ride at our own pace. This was good because it meant we were not waiting around or getting stuck on the trails behind other bikers. We followed the Blue route for many miles before splitting off and then joining the Red trail half way round. The Red trail offers slightly harsher terrain and is a little more technical. Onto the Red trail Last time we visited the first part of the Red trail, the 'Tank Traps' section of the trail was closed for felling. Fortunately this time round it was back open so we could enjoy the tight twists and turns on offer. We returned to 'Jump Gulley' half way round the red trail to find to our disappointment it had been flattened out. We played in this for quite a while on our last visit with lots of table top jumps and drops. The forestry commission saw far too many accidents and had to take the decision to close this part of the trail center. This then followed onto the top of the hill, from here you can continue the Red route, but we decided to have a few runs down the downhill sections first. Everyone enjoyed it so much we ended up taking in some new sections of the trails we had never done before. One of which was set down the middle with lots of 'rollable' jumps and twists. We must do this again on the next visit! Conclusion We continued for many more miles along the Red tail and finally joined back on the Blue to follow back to the carpark. Even the Blue trail has some high berms and twists. Swinley really does offer a lot, even though some of us had ridden here many times before, you can take different lines and learn new sections. We were having so much fun, we all forgot to take as many photos as normal so apologies for the shorter ride report this time. The ride landed us back to the main carpark where we enjoyed some hot coffee and as always some decent eBike natter! Fellow E-Bikeshop Owners will be pleased to know the next ride is now live. So make sure to sign up, it'll be a blast! See everyone at the end of January. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
Seven months, 11 countries and 13,000 kms after setting out from the e-bikeshop HQ in Farnham, Surrey we catch up with Gary and Rachel (The eBike Cycle Tourists). Now at the midway point in an attempt to set a new world e-bike long distance record. After cycling anything up to 140kms per day week in week out, we now consider ourselves well qualified to speak about what is good and maybe not-so-good about our e-bikes. All too often you read so-called in-depth reviews of a product after a weekend or maybe one or two weeks of use at the most. That is not our style and it is why we have waited for so long and so many kilometres to do a “real” review of our Haibikes. What is our honest opinion of the Haibike xDuro Trekking Bosch powered e-bikes we have been cycling? In a word they are an “amazing” piece of technology and engineering that takes cycle touring to a whole new level! We would recommend them to anyone contemplating a long distance self-contained cycle tour. With the current world record of 16,047 kms now well within sight and our eventual target of 20,000-plus kms clearly more than achievable, our Haibike’s have clearly proven that they are more than up to the task given to them. In fact, our Haibike xDuro e-bikes, in combination with the Bosch Performance crank drive motor and 400wh battery, have not only performed flawlessly, they have surpassed all expectations! A fact all the more impressive given the fact that both e-bikes are towing Tout Terrain single wheel cycle trailers loaded with 40-plus kgs of gear in addition to carrying two pannier bags each on the bike racks packed with camping gear, tents, spare batteries, food, clothing etc. So impressive has the performance of both e-bikes been, that after nearly 13,000kms of cycling over all sorts of terrain ranging from tarmac roads to boulder-strewn tracks really only suitable for a motorbike and in weather conditions ranging from well in excess of 40 degrees to below freezing, the Haibike/Bosch combination has not missed a beat – testament indeed to the quality of the product. Sure, a long list of consumable parts such as brake disc pads, brake rotors, rear wheels, chains, rear tyres, a Sram hub, pedals, bike stands and an entire rear hydraulic back brake system have had to be replaced, but not the beating heart of our beasts of burden … the Haibike xDuro Trekking RX e-bikes. The performance of our e-bikes has been all the more pleasing given the long hours of research spent studying the suitability of a wide range of e-bike models manufactured by companies from throughout the world prior to the start of the trip. The list of requirements the “right” e-bike had to have was exacting: a full range of 27 gear options, long battery life, a mid-mounted geared motor and frame-mounted battery, a relatively upright sitting position suitable for long days of comfortable cycling, hydraulic brakes for reliable stopping, front suspension, an overall suitability for long distance touring, 700c wheels for low rolling resistance, a make with an extensive list of dealers throughout Europe and the UK qualified to work on the bikes if needed and, most importantly, a sturdy frame capable of withstanding punishing long distance riding both on and off-road. In the end it seemed that all roads, no matter what specifications were taken into account, pointed to just one e-bike – the Haibike xDuro Trekking RX e-bike in combination with the Bosch Performance crank drive motor and 400wh battery system. With thanks to Gary Corbett for his write up, from the team and main sponsors at e-bikeshop. You can follow Gary & Rachel on their journey and see the full review of the bikes here.
You are the proud owner of a Bosch or Yamaha powered eBike, but a big day is approaching and your partner is nagging for gift ideas. What do you get the person who has everything? Why not think about some gifts to complement their precious pride and joy? Here we set out the top 10 gift ideas for both Bosch and Yamaha electric bike owners. Ideas to complement any eBike, from stocking fillers, to tech, to protection.. Keep scrolling. 1) Bosch / Yamaha Head Unit Display Sleeve The Bosch / Yamaha display sleeve is a universal case for transporting your display when removed from the electric bike. Made of upholstered material with scratch proof inner lining. It's also designed to fold on itself to hold the smaller Bosch Intuvia / Yamaha displays. When not in use, it also folds down neatly and wraps around the top tube of your eBike, making sure it's always to hand when you stop. Suitable: Bosch & Yamaha | Price £19.99 2) Cycliq Fly 6 Full HD Bike Camera & Rear Light The new Cycliq Fly 6 rear bike light with built in full HD camera is every cyclist's must have when out on riding! Film traffic / other riders to the rear, while maintaining safety. With a seriously increased light output of up to 30 lumens, Fly6 does everything possible to ensure playback is only ever for pleasure and not incident. With up to 6 hours of camera and light function the challenge will be who has the longest battery - you or the Fly6? Suitable: Bosch, Yamaha & All Bikes | Price £99.99 3) Bosch Nyon Heart Rate Monitor The Polar Heart Rate Sensor is paired easily and quickly with Bosch Nyon. Now the fitness screen is really useful, very clear and easy to read. The ultimate eBike tool. Heart rate monitoring for particularly effective and healthy exercise, Nyon can connect by Bluetooth to the Polar H7. This way, you can measure the intensity of your eBike exercise. Suitable: Bosch eBikes with Nyon | Price £64.99 4) Tubeless Wheel Sealant Kit Want to make your eBike lighter and resistant to punctures? The new Slime Tubeless sealant kit does just that. Convert any Bosch / Yamaha eBike to tubeless with ease. A team of racing professionals created Slime Pro Tubeless Sealant, an advanced formula that outperforms the competition. The kit includes all necessary parts to complete conversion. Suitable: Bosch, Yamaha & All Bikes | Price £49.99 5) Haibike All Mountain Rain Jacket The new Haibike Rain Jacket is essential for all weathers in the UK. Made from a lightweight material that means it's not heavy to wear and can be rolled up and tucked away neatly ready for any occasion. The rain jacket offers a neat little hood with ring pulls each side to pull in tight if required, front full length zip & velcro cuffs. A nice fitted jacket that you could even stroll up to the pub in! Suitable: All Bikers | Price £99.95 6) Bosch Nyon Upgrade Kit Take control of your Bosch powered eBike with the Bosch Nyon upgrade kit. Add lots of neat features like smart phone integration, satellite navigation & fitness tracking to name a few. This is the complete Bosch Nyon Kit, you can replace any existing Bosch Intuvia display and control buttons on the Bosch Active or Performance Line eBike system. Suitable: Bosch Active, Performance & CX | Price £449.99 7) DMR Vault eMTB Pedals The new DMR Vault is the next generation of the classic V8 and V12 family. Wide, Light, Slim, Tough, Tuneable. Winer of pretty much every mountain bike magazone review! The DMR Vault pedal is a tuneable flat pedal designed specifically for riders who want a bigger platform. Equally, at home on an all mountain or downhill setup, the DMR Vault pedal offers great stability and grip for the bumpiest of trails. Suitable: Bosch, Yamaha & All Bikes | Price £99.99 8) JetValve CO2 Smart System Repair Pod The new JetValve CO2 complete Smart System Repair Pod comes with everything you need. In one handy device that fits straight into any pocket, bag or saddle bag. Forget pumping, this takes seconds! Ideal for backpacks & saddle bags. It comes with two tyre levers, two 16g CO2 cartridges, inflator head & self-seal patches for quick and easy repair. Suitable: Bosch, Yamaha & All Bikes | Price £23.99 9) Emergency USB Mini Bike Lights These are great little lights to attach to your eBike. So small you don't notice they are there. Good if you get stuck out and need an emergency lamp to see you home. Fully USB rechargeable. No tools to fit, easy and simple, no cables to charge, the mini USB lights plug straight into a USB to recharge. Outputs up to 35 lumen with a 9 hour run time. Suitable: Bosch, Yamaha & All Bikes | Price £34.99 10) Bosch / Yamaha Battery Terminal Cover The Bosch / Yamaha eBike protection cap to cover downtube battery pin unit terminals.The cap is made of elastic Neoprene for covering the pin unit of an e-bike when the battery is taken off. Protects from weather, freezing, dirt and damage particularly when transporting the eBike. Suitable for any e-bike with frame battery. Suitable: Bosch & Yamaha So there you have it, our top 10 eBike friendly gifts. Presents you can be sure will go down on the big day! Still not certain what to get? Don't forget we also offer gift vouchers to any value.
A autumn day in November saw another one of our E-Bikeshop Owners Club rides. We were really surprised to see such a turnout at QE Park for mid November but 20 riders appeared! Our November ride was planned for Queen Elizabeth Country Park, between Petersfield and Portsmouth. This trail center had some new trails built a year or so ago, so it was time for the Owners Club to check it out. As usual we booked the weather for this one. It was raining the day before & the day after but for Sunday we were blessed with warm, dry weather, even the sun made a brief appearance! Morning Brief We all met in the main car park and began a ride brief first thing in the morning, everyone was eager to set off. One fellow member (Jez) had already done a 60 mile 2.5 hour road bike warm up around the Petersfield area on his (analogue) road bike. Now to the riding From there it was straight out onto the blue trail. From the off it was clear that it was going to be very wet and muddy from the previous weeks rainfall! Our newest member David staying upright below, it was his first ride out with us. A few miles in a quick pitstop was in order to regroup and take a quick break. We can all say that there is plenty of climbing at QE Park. But fortunately we are on eBikes! The Blue trail led onto the slightly more tricky Red trail. Lot's of off camber twists turns and climbing. The trails have been greatly improved thanks to the QECP Collective who have been working hard to improve the trails. Top work guys! Fellow member Ken above showing us how it's done. Plenty of smiles all round. The middle part of the Red trail was pretty hard work in the wet, with minimal traction and lots of grunt required to stay upright. Jason above showing that although we are on electric bikes, it can still be exhausting in places! A well deserved break was due half way round to catch our breath and have a quick natter. The next part of the Red route featured a really nice bit of singletrack that made use of the steep descent, a section full of switchbacks swept down the side of the hill, made for some faster pace riding. One big train of riders emerged from the shadows! A few more climbs back to the top and we made it back onto another great section full of fast sweeping berms, and tabletop jumps. Of course could be rolled over if you didn't feel like catching some air. Something fellow member Chris decided he would drop his eMTB mid trail (due to a blockage ahead) and summersault himself off the edge of the berm, landing upright on his feet. Some say he was action man in a previous life, unfortunately didn't manage to picture the stunt, only this one of him making his way back up the trail on foot! A sight I will never forget. Conclusion As usual & after all the hard work riding we had a much deserved rest in the mani cafe, lot's of coffees and teas all round and a eBike conversations before we all headed off home for the day. One thing that was apparent was how much of a battering the eBikes took throughout the day. The conditions were wet and muddy to say the least. I am sure everyone had fun cleaning their electric mountain bikes the next day. We are busy planning for the next ride in December. Many of us are off to Bike Park Wales this weekend. Should be fun. Until next time, ride safe and stay upright! The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
On Monday 16th November 2015 The UK Electric Bike Company was awarded National Business Leaders of the year at the Houses of Parliament, London. Earlier in the year E-Bikeshop won a prestigious Headline Award presented at a ceremony in the London Transport Museum, more than one million companies of all types and sizes were invited to apply for the regional and national awards. E-Bikeshop won National Silver in Retail. In light of their award, they were one of a handful, put forward to become a National Business Leader. The National Business Leader awards ceremony took place in the Houses of Parliament in the evening of 16th November. Over 600 people attended on the day of which 13 companies were awarded with National Business Leaders status. Awards speaker Michael Cooke, ex MP for the environment read out a brief synopsis: The company started as a one man band back in 2008 but with dedication and persistence, company director Martin Brown has grown the business into the UK’s largest independent eBike supplier - and it is now one of the biggest in Europe. With a new Sales & Distribution centre in Farnham, Surrey opened last year; they are already planning their next expansion. Well done. Whilst Aleah Leigh, world fashion designer, presented the trophy and certificate, appropriately dressed in her latest design made of completely recycled materials. The UK Electric Bike Company will feature in next year's National Business Leaders handbook. This will be distributed free of charge to thousands of businesses, organizations, trade associations, national / local government, banks, consultants and the media to gain benefit from following the experience and expertise of the National Business Leaders. The National Business Leaders handbook will be printed early next year and is designed as a work of reference to help companies and individuals to learn from the experience & success of National Business Leaders.
An existing customer emailed in his lovely long term review after 7 months owning his Haibike sDuro HardSeven electric bike. He has now clocked up over 1600 miles by eBike. What I wanted to achieve? When I bought the bike I wanted primarily a bike to ride to work on as often as possible, leaving my car at home as much as possible on a bike that could cope with a mainly off road route of between 12 and 14 miles to work and then get me home as quickly as possible on a hilly 10 mile B Road route. To complicate matters I need to carry quite a bit of stuff to work and prefer to use a rear rack and panniers to do so. The tracks I use are too rough for the trekking style bikes so my choice was quickly reducing. I looked at a lot of bikes but in the end decided I needed a hardtail electric mountain bike that I could fit a rack to. After a lot of research I found myself returning to the e-bikeshop site and focusing on the Haibike sDuro and xDuro HardSeven. I rang Martin who was very helpful, and reassured me that they could fit racks to either bike and said I should come to the shop and try them out. In the end I attended the demo day and was able to ride both the Yamaha and Bosch systems on great tracks and meet some really friendly like-minded people. After that I arranged to meet Martin at his shop in Farnham where I could see the whole range of bikes and make up my mind in a relaxed way. Martin also suggested a set of Moon lights that have proved to be excellent and fitted some Schwalbe Smart Sam plus puncture resistant tyres and slime filled tubes to avoid as many punctures as possible as a puncture when you have to be at work is no fun. The Yamaha motor As other people have noted The Yamaha motor is a gem. The zero cadence works brilliantly off road and means it responds immediately to your input on the pedals and the torque of the motor will pull you up and over anything you aim it at. It will try and engage with any weight on the pedal and if you are at a road junction or set of lights I sometimes switch the assist off while I am waiting and back on again when it is time to set off. Either that or just take your feet off the pedals or un-weight the pedals. Riding the eBike I have now been riding the bike to and from work for seven months throughout the summer and hardly had to use the car at all. The off road route to work is a sheer pleasure and I have added more demanding tracks knowing that the bike can cope. I actually want the exercise and now predominantly only use the eco mode on the 13 mile off road route to work but know the bike can pick up the pace and fly at the push of a button. Getting home fast is also a pleasure I use the second standard level of assistance and never use the highest assistance level even on the steep hills and turn the motor off on descents. The Moon lights mean that I can see where I am going now! The 9 speed gearing has a sweet spot for cruising around 20/22 miles an hour. Obviously the speed drops on the steeper hills and you just drop down through the gears until you find the best one for the effort you want to add to the pedals and the gradient you are climbing. However I still find myself climbing some long more gentle hills at an indicated 20mph. Even a fairly steep long hill is dispatched at 12/14 miles an hour. On the steepest hill my speed drops down to around 10 mph. Momentum is quickly regained when you crest the hill. With a crank motored bike you have to pedal and whatever the setting you end up exercising, which for me is a benefit not a curse. Using eco on my 12/13 mile mostly off road ride to work I have about 62% battery left when I arrive at work. Blasting the 10 miles home on my hilly B Road in standard I have about 52% battery left when I get home. I top my battery up at work and am a 17 stone + guy with two loaded panniers. I did manage 30 miles on a fun mostly off road leisure ride including lots of very challenging hill climbs and by managing the way I rode the bike found the controller telling me I was about to deplete the battery 200 yards from home. Longer term thoughts? After 7 months I have so far seen no noticeable degradation in the battery. I look after my battery by bringing it into the house after every ride and charging it if I am going to use the bike the next day. If I am not going to use the bike for a number of days it will have over 50% remaining after my ride home from work and I store it without topping it back up in a warm dry cupboard and then charge it up again on the day I next ride. I was worried about spokes breaking in the back wheel being a heavy guy and carrying panniers but actually wrote off my rear wheel and rear mech after only a few weeks riding when a tree branch jammed in the rear spokes, so I cannot say whether the original rear wheel would have coped with the weight it was carrying as the miles increased. Martin made me up a strong back wheel based on a mavic rim that has so far taken everything that I have thrown at it. The beauty of a crank drive is that if you need a stronger rear wheel you can just build one up and slot it in. A disadvantage of a powerful crank drive system is that it puts quite a strain on your cassette, chain and front sprocket. I would advise changing gear as gently as you can. I read Anthony Flemings excellent review and did find that I also damaged the original rear cassette by unsympathetically changing gear on a steep hill under full load. The system does interrupt power as you change gear but I would still recommend taking a gentle approach to changing gear. Any upgrades? I followed Anthony’s advice and fitted a cheap rear cassette that has for me proved more durable than the original although I made sure my gears were perfectly indexed after it was fitted. The rack Martin fitted is working well in combination with my Ortlieb Panniers although for my own peace of mind I replaced the standard fitting bolts with much stronger ones that I sourced from the excellent Margnor Fasteners Ltd near Guildford. Like any new bike you will probably want to put a more comfortable seat on and I have found the Velo Inclined Men's Plush Men's Saddle – Black sourced from Amazon the most comfortable saddle I have ever used and have now put this saddle on my other bikes. The Smart Sam Plus Tyres with slime filled tubes have not punctured. Over half my mileage is off road with all the hazards you meet there so I strongly recommend them. I have found enough grip off road and due to their strong construction they are a very fast running road tyre for commuting and very hard wearing. For me the standard brakes have been very good with plenty of power and a nice feel and modulation. I know this contradicts other reviews but they have been fine for me. I also have not had a problem with the seat post and after fitting my new saddle it has stayed in the position I put it in. The quality of the Haibike frame is fantastic, obviously high quality and very well engineered, producing a taut and well controlled ride. I have a Rockshox Recon Silver 100mm fork that is fitted to the xduro hard tail on another bike I own and prefer the Rock Shock to the Suntour fork on the Sduro but the Suntour is air adjustable and works just fine. Conclusion So I have to say that after 7 months and 1600 miles I am still very impressed with this bike. I think that the combination of the German Haibike frame and Japanese motor are a great combination and hard to beat. I have ended up with a highly capable mountain bike and fast road bike that can also lug me and two full panniers around with consummate ease. More importantly than all this is that riding this bike is amazing fun and it has enabled me to commute to work by bicycle and leave the car at home which I could not have done on an ordinary bike. You obviously also get a lot of exercise in a way that you hardly notice. I have also found that e-bikeshop provide exemplary advice and very good service. With thanks to Henry for this long term review on the Haibike sDuro HardSeven 2015.
One of our customers decided to give us an update of his eBike journey throughout 2015. This includes a detailed review of both the Gocycle G2 and the Haibike sDuro FullNine SL. Where it started? It was late September 2014, my brother was visiting for the weekend and we decided to pop up to Covent Garden and do something touristy. As we walked through Covent Garden, we passed a Smart Car display, and there were a couple of Smart e-bikes on display too. I hadn't really done any cycling since the early nineties. I briefly tried cycling again back in 2007, but this only lasted a few days! So I wouldn't say that I was that mad about cycling, but the idea of an electric bike seemed quite appealing. The next step? While surfing the web, I came across the Gocycle G2, and decided to take a closer look. So the following weekend I went to the closest dealer to try out the Gocycle G2. It was surprisingly easy to ride! It really was fun, but it seemed expensive (for me at least). After much deliberation I popped back to the dealer the following weekend and came away with my new Gocycle G2. I cycled home in the pouring rain with big smile on my face. To sum up the Gocycle? I've now clocked up nearly 1,500 miles on it. It's not like cycling as I remember it, you don't notice the hills so much, you don't get so frustrated when you have to stop and start in traffic, and best of all you don't arrived at your destination dripping with sweat. It's just a more civilised way to cycle. I'm not saying the Gocycle is necessarily the best choice for an e-bike, but it was my first choice. I'm not sure that I was very clinical with my selection process though, I just liked the look of it. Longer term thoughts? Now that I've lived with it for a year I can say that there are some points that really stand out. It's very easy to keep clean (which is quite important given that it is stored in the living room). It's fairly light compared to some other e-bikes, so still fairly easy to carry when necessary (unavoidable sometimes when the lifts are out in the Greenwich foot tunnel). It is possible to fold up. I don't think you would want to do this on a regular basis though. I've not used the folding feature that much, although there have been a few times where I popped it in the boot of the car or took it on the bus. It's very simple to use, and fairly easy to adjust the amount of assistance you want. One thing I'm not so sure about though is the attention it attracts. If you don't like to be noticed then the Gocycle is not for you. People can't help but comment on it. It really is a head turner. The Gocycle is a great little bike that attracts a lot of attention! I'm guessing the range may be a bit short for some. I probably get about 15 miles, but obviously this will vary depending on hills and the level of assistance. The Gocycle really opened my eyes to the benefits of e-bikes, so much so that I bought another e-bike! What did you go for? Back in March 2015 I had been surfing the web again when I came across the Haibike range of mountain e-bikes and I was curious about the crank drive system. I phoned e-bikeshop to see if they could give me a bit more information about the benefits of the crank drive over the hub drive. I spoke to a very helpful chap named Martin and he simply said I should try it out. They were organising a demo day on the South Downs and Martin suggested that I come along and try a few different models. How did it go? The Haibikes are a very different proposition to the Gocycle. The demo day was a lot of fun, and I came away trying to work out how I was going to convince my wife to let me buy another e-bike so quickly after the first one, because my mind was definitely made up. The next week I took delivery of the Haibike sDuro FullNine. It is a great bike! The crank drive kicks in as soon as you start to pedal, which really helps if you are trying to push off on a steep hill. The ride is really smooth and everything feels so tight. The range is surprisingly good. It's just an awesome bit of engineering. Do I prefer the Gocycle or Haibike? That's actually quite a difficult question to answer. The Gocycle is just so easy to live with and is bursting with great ideas, not to mention that it is possibly the most stylish bike I've seen. On the other hand the Haibike is a marvel that you feel you could ride just about anywhere. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I'm not sure I could choose one over the other. I use them both fairly equally. I love both of these bikes and I don't plan on parting with either of them anytime soon. To sum up my eBike experience? I would say that the e-bike really has changed my life. I look forward to the daily commute to work! They are expensive but I have only been on public transport a handful of times over the last year so I have already saved myself about £1,500 in bus/tube fares. If you haven't considered an e-bike, I would thoroughly recommend that you do. I've seen articles which suggest it is for those people that aren't very fit for one reason or another, but I don't really agree with that assessment. An e-bike is a really efficient means of personal transport for anyone, much better in the city than a car, or even a motorbike. With thanks to David for this interesting article covering both the Gocycle G2 Folding eBike & Haibike FullNine.
We are pleased to announce details and a first look of the new 2016 Scott eBike range coming to the UK shores. Some exciting new electric mountain bike models with an expanded range for 2016. Due to the success of the 2015 range, we have decided to stock in more models for 2016 with a new expanded range of eMTB's consisting of full suspension, hardtail & different wheel sizes. What's new? Scott are fairly new to the eBike game, we say that, they have been around in the eBike world for a few years now.. But for 2016 the range is refined and incorporates the new exciting Bosch Performance CX drive with more torque and power than ever before. The system is predominantly designed for mountain biking and also includes a larger capacity 500Wh battery pack for more extended trips in the saddle. You can read more on the new Bosch system in another article here 2016 Bosch eBike System. More models? We will be offering the full range of eMTB's, this includes a mix of 2 27.5" hardtails & 2 29" variants. Also on top of the standard 2 Scott Spark (120mm travel) full susser's we will be offering 2 larger travel 29" version and also 2 new 27.5+ versions! How to navigate the range? It's fairly easy to navigate the new 2016 Scott electric bike range, we break it down as follows: The E-: Of course refers to the fact that it's an electric assisted mountain bike! Every eBike has 2 spec grades built on the same frame, wheel size and electrical system. 10: means higher spec, lighter & more durable components. 20: means base model components, built to be well equipped but more affordable. E-Genius: means larger (140-150mm) travel full suspension eBike. E-Spark: means smaller travel (120mm) full suspension eBike. E-Aspect: means that it is a hardtail electric bike (without rear suspension). Anyway enough gassing, let's get on with the models on offer! Starting from the top down: Scott E-Genius 710 Plus 2016 The new E-Genius Plus bikes offer 140mm of full blown trail suspension travel, but are mounted up on extra wide tyres, these bridge the gap between fat bikes and standard trail bikes. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth post & 27.5+ Formula / Zee wheelset. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 710 Plus 2016 Scott E-Genius 720 Plus 2016 Built on the same chassis as above but on a lower spec grade, the 720 Plus offers superior grip grip levels, while maintaining full trail ride comfort with the wider 27.5+ tyres. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5+ Formula / Zee wheelset & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 720 Plus 2016 Scott E-Genius 910 2016 A brand new model for 2016, the E-Genius 910 offers a high spec 140mm travel 29" electric mountain bike. Finally an option for proper trail addicts that want a larger wheel, faster bike. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth post & 29" Shimano / Syncros wheelset. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 910 2016 Scott E-Genius 920 2016 Built on the same chassis, wheel size & electric system as above but on a lower spec grade, the 920 offers an easy way into the electric mountain bike scene, without breaking the bank! Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Syncros / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 920 2016 Scott E-Spark 710 2016 The Scott E-Spark range offers an everyday comfortable full suspension trail bike with 120mm travel and 650B wheels. A good spec bike that suits as an everyday all rounder. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 32, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, 27.5" Syncros / Shimano wheelset & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Spark 710 2016 Scott E-Spark 720 2016 There's a theme running here! The Scott E-Spark 720 is the same chassis as above, but again with a lower spec base, offering a more affordable option with more entry level components. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, RockShox 120mm Recon, Custom X-Fusion shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes & 27.5" Formula / Shimano wheels. Find out more here - Scott E-Spark 720 2016 Scott E-Aspect 710 2016 The Scott E-Aspect 710 is the top spec hardtail for 2016. This model offers decent components on a 100mm travel hardtail frame for your everyday biker. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, Intuvia Display, 500Wh Battery, Fox Float 32 fork, Full Shimano XT 11 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5" Syncros / Shimano wheels.Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 710 2016 Scott E-Aspect 720 2016 The entry level hardtail within the Scott eBike range. This 100mm travel bike is built on the same chassis as above, but drops down on forks, 10 speed gearing and wheels. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, Bosch Intuvia Display, 500Wh Battery, RockShox Silver forks, Full Shimano SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5" Formula / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 720 2016 Scott E-Aspect 910 2016 The E-Aspect 910 is the 29" version for 2016. The higher spec model complete with larger wheels for faster rolling & handling. Built with decent components to match the price tag. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox Float 32 fork, Full Shimano XT 11 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Syncros / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 910 2016 Scott E-Aspect 920 2016 The entry level 29" hardtail within the Scott eBike range. This bike comes with 100mm of travel and is built on the same chassis as above, but drops down on forks, 10 speed gearing and wheels. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, RockShox Silver TK fork, Full Shimano SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Formula / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 920 2016 Please Note: Although all hardtails are pictured above with the standard Bosch performance motor they will arrive spec'd with new Bosch Performance CX drive unit for 2016. What do we think? The new Scott eBike range looks really good for 2016. We have decided to expand on the model range to include the bigger travel suspension bikes. Although we will be stocking both the 27.5" & 29" entry level hardtail models, these will be to run alongside the higher spec ones to make it easy for you to see the differences. Our money is still on the higher spec models, considering the small price difference, the spec is justified and in our mind - is a no brainer. It's also nice to have the larger travel, bigger wheel 29" suspension bikes. This really closes a gap in our range for those hardcore 29'er boys looking for a fully spec'd eMTB. One of the models we think will be most popular is the new E-Genius 710 PLUS bikes, the 27.5" wheels combined with the wider tyre will offer superior levels of grip and ultimately be the middle ground between a fat bike and practical trail conditions. When can I get one? Is exactly the same question we are thinking!. All models are available to pre order right now on our website. The hardtails come in around November time, with the full suspension models following a little later on. Some even before xmas! You can find full spec & availability of each bike on our website here - Scott 2016 eBikes.
Haibike announced the first ever sDuro Yamaha powered ladies specific electric mountain bike a few months back. We were eager to get the verdict on this fantastic new model. Haibike sDuro HardLife SL 2016 Not sure the gents will agree on the name, the Germans decided on this one, so we followed suit. Ladies do you have a HardLife?.. Well it's about to get easier with this new sDuro electric mountain bike! Forget the hills, this tough part of the ride is eased up somewhat with new eAssitance from the Yamaha system. Who better to give the bike a verdict - the lovely Kirsty from our E-Bikeshop Owners Club. With a revised Ladies specific geometry, tighter bars, shorter stem and even offered in 4 sizes. The new ladies Haibike will be popular for an all round hardtail mountain eBike. Great stand over, means ladies short and tall can benefit. The Yamaha battery slides in from the side meaning the top tube can be mounted lower down, giving more clearance. Even the 100mm forks match in perfectly with the matte finish and exact colour coding. We love the fact that Haibike have added the forks decals to match, nice touch! The new decals certainly suit the ladies, we particularly love the hearty sDuro logo and all the little refined decals that come together to make this bike stand out! The new Yamaha control buttons offer a sleeker appearance with blacked out buttons, that no longer look faded after extended use. The buttons also feel more responsive and you can even charge your smartphone on the go using a USB adapter. Let's see what Kirsty had to say after riding the new electric mountain bike for the first time: How would you sum it up? As a keen e-bike rider I have been waiting a long time for a ladies mountain e-bike. I feel this bike was built for me, the handle bars are in the perfect position, the seat is reasonably comfortable considering how streamlined it is. Wow FINALLY a ladies e-bike that looks and feels awesome! It's also much lighter than other e-bikes I have tried which is a massive win in my eyes. It's easy, fuss free and not too technical, which is just what I am after. This now means I can go out riding with my partner on his electric mountain bike, keep up and be comfortable... This will definitely get me out on my e-bike more. You can read more about this bike here - Haibike sDuro HardLife SL Ladies eBike
The E-Bikeshop Owners Club visited Ranmore Common in October 2015 for another amazing day riding electric mountain bikes across the various trails and singletrack. Across the top of the South Downs, Ranmore common offered a mix of different riding terrain. With yet another great day of weather for the club this meant another pleasurable yet exciting ride for the members at the Surrey setting. As our members club continues to grow we welcome the new faces to the team with every meet we have, this is a great chance for them to test their new bikes to the max with a group of E-Bike lovers. Long lasting members Chris and Ken treated the club to another one of their pre-planned track rides, of which they never seem to fail to bring something for everyone. After a little prep talk from the pair about what was ahead for us we soon set off on our adventures on these power injected push bikes. After much hill climbing before long we hit our first bomb hole, some of these ballsy men psyched themselves up enough to chuck themselves down this giant bomb hole. With this winter leafy grounds now forming some of us decided we didn't quite have balls big enough and chose a calmer route. This is what is the great thing about these rides is that no one leaves disappointed, we make our rides as easy or as hard as each individual is comfortable with. Although there is nothing like pushing yourself that little bit harder. Clive after free falling from an identical hill like this one on the opposite side creating a U shape, which shot him straight up the this second hill. There were quite a lot of tree roots going down this hill which made it very slippery but great to watch as an observer. Here is the club having one of our 5 minute breaks because although these great push bikes are powered with electrics we are still getting great exercise and we do have to catch our breath sometimes, especially if some of us have just chucked ourselves down some crazy hills. It is also very important we keep ourselves hydrated, I mean we are going out longer, harder, faster, that's thirsty work. Derek being the one of many ballsy riders went all out and did a slide out down this steep hill. A ride isn't a ride without someone having a slide out. The inner trials always comes out of our main man Martin when he gets out on two wheels, but yet shows us that these bikes can be so versatile, which equals to great entertainment. We always manage to find some area where there some more technical jumpy parts, which is great to mix things up. Chris doing his thing in leading the way through the Ranmore Common hills, tracks and trails, doing an amazing job as always. 'The Sick Bowl' now named by the club. This awesome but daring bowl that we came across gets it's name due to it making you feel so sick because once you join the bowl you can't stop or you'd full in the leafy water that awaits in the middle, much fun for some of the members. Bernie loves to challenge himself and rarely opts out of the trickier parts. This is another bomb hole, these can be very steep and slippery at this time of year and often with many trees blocking tracks, so this can very much be a challenge but great fun. Conclusion While out for another amazing ride with the club we stopped for a little treat at a cafe for tea and cake where we could gather and chat about our ride so far. To sum it up there were a couple of falls, a lot of laughs and a lot of power. We even topped off the ride with a little extra circuit for the more technical riders which really tested their performance. Overall great work from the club, to be continued... Don’t worry club members, the next ride will be posted in the group shortly. Photos will of course be uploaded to the members page in the coming days, feel free to tag yourselves! The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
Now you've got your electric mountain bike, it's time to learn some of those skills & techniques for use out on the trail. Even if you are already confident in trail riding on your eMTB then take a read, as you may be able to refine some of those techniques further. Some of you may have seen the new Up Hill Flow 2 video from Bosch. We have broken this down into easy snippets of simple numbered manoeuvres. Sorry for the German speaking, but the translated subtitles have been added and the pictures speak for themselves. Bosch eBike Technique 1: Selecting Assistance Modes When riding a Bosch eBike off road, it's imperative to select the correct assistance mode. You can use the electric bike assistance to your advantage. Get used to scrolling different levels of assistance on your eBike dependent on the terrain you are riding. Bosch eBike Technique 2: Center of Gravity When riding eMTB's off road, you can use the low center of gravity to your advantage. Providing a good balance, especially when riding downhill. It also helps when braking because you have more weight, therefore better traction on the back wheel. Bosch eBike Technique 3: Cornering Boost Using your Bosch eBike in cornering can give you great benefits, you can ride in slower and more controlled and then boost out of the corner. This achieves a really flowing ride when riding and keeps your momentum up across the trails. Bosch eBike Technique 4: Pedal Management Keeping your eBike pedals level is paramount when coasting, this allows more control and a higher ground clearance. Depending on if you are left or right footed you should have this at the front. This will give your body more control and balance. Bosch eBike Technique 5: Navigating Sharp Turns Making sharp turns, particularly when travelling uphill can be tricky. It's important to use your body weight and the power of the eBike to hold momentum correctly. It's important to be in the correct gear and enter the corner with the opposite pedal at the back so that when you exit it is ready at the front to power out. Bosch eBike Technique 6: Gear Selection Bearing in mind the Bosch eBike system responds to cadence, correct gear selection is essential to get the most out of your electric bike. Particularly useful when climbing as the eBike benefits from being in a higher gear, and seated in the saddle, this gives you more momentum and allows good traction of the rear wheel. Bosch eBike Technique 7: Starting Up Hill One of the massive benefits of an electric mountain bike is that it is no trouble stopping and starting on a steep slope. To do this, the best way is to select a good assistance mode and start in a high gear. This will quickly propel your momentum forward so you can find your balance. Don't select a too high assistance mode as you may find the bike wheelies on a steep hill. Bosch eBike Technique 8: Tapping Obstacles Use the electric assistance to your advantage when approaching obstacles. As you approach, tap on the pedals to give yourself a boost just before you hit, this will balance your weight and allow the eBike to be propelled up and over. Suspension will also help here as it compresses and springs back. Once mastered you can use these together to ride over obstacles easier. Bosch eBike Technique 9: Trail Boost By using your eMTB to it's full potential, you can 'Boost' the trails, turns and obstacles. Select a high assistance mode and light gear. Then nudge the pedals where required to boost your way round tight trails and keep a good flow. Bosch eBike Technique 10: Turning eBike when stationary When stationary, sometimes it is required to turn around and go back the other way. On the eBike you can hold the rear brake, stomp on the pedal, at the same time release the brake. Let your arms move with the bike as it hops around. Make sure you have a clear area, with enough space and make sure to keep your legs out of the way. A pedal to the shin sucks! Bosch eBike Technique 11: Uphill Wheelie A wheelie on a eBike is easier than you may thing. You have the added advantage of power and torque. Select a high assistance mode and light gear. Then propel the pedals, whilst lifting slightly on the bars. It's easier to sit down as you can balance your weight and have more control. This one really takes some practice! Make sure to hover your finger over the rear brake lever so you can control yourself if you go up too high. Practice makes perfect, find the balance point, start on soft ground! Bosch eBike Technique 12: Wheel Prancing As you power up the hill on the eMTB, you get good traction on the rear end and the front end will become light. Prancing is where you can almost allow the front wheel to go where it wants as it prances over the terrain. Keep your body pointing in the right direction, but this will allow for a smoother more flowy ride. Bosch eBike Technique 13: Trail Etiquette Last but not least, certainly most importantly, we need to appreciate the trails are accessed by everyone and learn to respect others out on the hills. Leaving plenty of space and being courteous to others is key to a safe outdoor environment for everyone to enjoy, be it dog walkers, other cyclists, horse riders and of course the ramblers. Now its your turn.. Now you have navigated through the videos, it's time to take some of these skills to the trail. Remember practice makes perfect, give yourself some time to learn and refine the moves above. Make sure you have good space around you and remember others may be using the trials too, so find a quiet place to try these out and be courteous to others. Don't forget you can also spend some time with a professional rider to hone in on these skills. Sometimes it's good to have someone there to watch what you are doing 3rd hand and suggest ways to improve. There are now a number of electric bike coaching professional ready to offer their services. In the UK, Alex @ eMTB coaching specialises in this area. We have first hand experience with him and must say the feedback is great. Enjoy the videos above? Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for updates. Not got an eMTB yet? View the full range on our shop here - Electric Mountain Bikes. Bookmark the page so you can refer back to them when out on your bike and take your electric mountain biking to the next level! Lets Go!..